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LIHRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Cooies Received 

JUL 1 1904 

CoDyrIffht Entry 

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LASS CC XXo. Na- 

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COPY B 


(!Io)i yrigift, 1003 ♦ 

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iB CatitttglQ iphtratrd ta ilg 

for falfom tljr BtortrB mrrr inorntrb 


EAR Little Folk — I do not write 
Of angry witches’ acts ; 

Nor do I cause your tears to flow 
By sad and dreary facts. 

But simply tell to you, my dears, 

Some tales of childhood’s hour — 

Of country life and joy and peace. 

And tree and stream and flower; 

Of fairies good; and children’s pets. 
That fill their lives with gladness; 

And nature’s wondrous store of joys. 
Without a touch of sadness. 

So this I’ll call a Sunshine Book, 
Which every girl and boy 

May open on a dreary day 
And find content and joy. 




CONTENTS 


Page 

7 


A Christmas Fairy 

The Fairy Wand 17 

Peggy's Discovery 25 

The Wanderings of Billy-Goat 31 

The Twins’ Adventure 37 

/ 

Clover and Her Babies 45 

Charley-Boy 51 

The Pine Tree’s Story 61 

The Stream’s Error 69 

The James Children, and Their Trip to the Mountains. 75 
The Visit to the Mine - 83 


Some of Auntie Belle’s Stories 


91 



Che l^hildrctt’s Suttshinc Book 

CHRISTMAS FAIRY 

HE Thomas family were in a state of excite- 
ment over the following letter which had 
just been received by the father of the family : 

“Dear Nephew — I find the farm very 
lonely since your dear uncle died; especially 
so this summer, and I have been thinking 
how your children would brighten up the 
old place. Could you and Mamie let me 
have Charlie and Grace for a month? I 
should consider it a great favor, apd should try to make their visit 
a happy one. If they can come, please send them in the care of my 
foreman, Mr. Lewis, who will spend next week in your city, return- 
ing on Saturday. He will call upon you soon after arriving in the 
city, and I have instructed him to attend to their railroad tickets, 
if you consent to my plans. 

“Tell Mamie to pack their old clothes, as they will only wear 





8 THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 

< 

their good ones upon Sundays. I want them to have a good, 
romping time of it. . I shall take the best of care of them. 

“Hoping to hear soon that I may expect them, 

“With love to you all, 

“Aunt Mary.” 

Mr. Thomas had read the letter aloud at the dinner table, and 
before he had finished two pairs of little hands were clapping joy- 
ously and two earnest voices exclaimed : “Of course you’ll let us 
go! Won’t you? Oh, what fun we’ll have on the farm! Hurrah 
for Aunt Mary!” 

But their parents looked rather sober over the invitation. How 
could they live a whole month without their children. And a 
day’s journey seemed a long ways from home to them. Besides, 
Aunt Mary was unused to children, and had remarked once, when 
upon a visit to them, that Charles’ children were certainly the most 
restless beings she had ever seen. To be sure, they were older now. 
Grace was eight and Charlie ten years of age, but still they were 
very active young people, and might disturb Aunt Mary, who 
was an old lady. 

The father looked across the table to the mother and said: 
“I shall leave it all with you, Mamie. You can decide as you 
please.” 

“Then I’ll take a day to think it over, dear,” she replied. 
“That means we’ll go, Grace,” whispered Charlie. “When mamma 
says that, it’s as good as a yes.” And so it proved to be this time, 
for when Mr. Lewis started upon his return trip to the farm, two 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


9 


happy young faces nodded a last “Good-bye” to Papa and Mamma 
from the car window. 

From the moment the train started there was plenty to claim 
their attention, for the country looked very fresh and beautiful, and 
they crossed many clear, rippling streams, and rode for miles along 
the shore of a large lake. To these little folks, who had never 
before been over a dozen miles from home, the journey was indeed 
a wonderful one. 

Late in the afternoon they reached the railroad station nearest 
the farm and found Aunt Mary awaiting them in a carriage drawn 
by a span of handsome black horses. She greeted them most 
cordially. 

As they drove off, Charlie, who was a great admirer of 
horses, exclaimed : “What fine horses you have. Aunt. Have you 
any burros for me to ride on the farm?” His dearest chum had 
once visited upon a mountain farm (or ranch, as it is called) and 
had ridden on a burro. 

“No, we have no burros, but I think you’ll find something 
you’ll enjoy quite as well,” replied Aunt Mary with a smile. And 
so he did, for just as they stopped at the door of the pleasant- 
looking farm house he noticed a Shetland pony with a saddle on 
his back, “Whose pony is that?” he exclaimed. “It is for a little 
boy to ride, who has come a long way to visit his old Auntie.” And 
before his Aunt could finish her sentence, the delighted boy was out 
of the carriage and into the saddle with a bound and patting the 
pretty pony on the back. A moment more and 'he was back at his 


10 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


Aunt’s side, throwing both arms about her in a big, grateful hug 
that brought tears of joy to the dim old eyes. 

Grace was as pleased as her brother about the pc^y, but Aunt 
Mary turned to her and said : “Come, little girlie, I think we can 
find something for you in the house.” And in the library, on a 
cunning little rocking-chair, sat a beautiful French doll, dressed as 
a baby, its arms outstretched toward her. 

“Oh Aunt! Did you mean this for me, — for my very own 
baby? Oh, oh!” she gasped, too full of joy for further utterance, 
clasping the beautiful doll baby to her breast. ^ 

Aunt Mary had wisely planned these surprises to prevent an 
attack of homesickness this first night away from their home and 
parents. 

After supper they took a short walk about the farm, and then 
went upstairs to bed early, as they were quite tired. Aunt Mary 
took Grace into a dear little blue room. “This is where I slept 
when I was a little girl,” she explained, “and my parents slept in 
the next room, which I now occupy. I thought you’d like to be 
close to me.” 

Then she took Charlie to his room across the hall. “What a 
lovely, old-fashioned room this is,” said the boy. “I’m so glad I 
can sleep in this high, four-poster bed. I never saw one before. 
Aren’t all these things very old?” 

“Yes, indeed they are. You are the fourth Charlie-boy to sleep 
in this old room and bed. It first belonged to my father (your 
great-grandfather) when he was a boy. Next my brother (your 


THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


II 


grandfather) used it. Then your father slept here when he used 
to visit the old home. They all grew up good men, Charlie, and 
I have no doubt you’ll be like them. When you blow out your 
candle, think how all those other Charlies have blown theirs out, 
as their candles rested in this same stick and upon this same table.” 

No wonder the little boy dreamed that night that two old men 
stood by his bed (one holding the candle) looking thoughtfully 
upon him as he lay there. The older man said : “Charles, my son, 
your grandson sleeps sweetly in our old bed,” and the other old 
man answered: “Yes, and what a big boy he is growing to be. 
When I left the world he was just a little baby. I hope he’ll be as 
good a man as my boy, Charles — for I’m very proud of my son.” 

Next day the children had a long ramble about the farm before 
going to church. The young colts, calves, baby lambs and newly- 
hatched chickens delighted them exceedingly. While they stood 
watching the chickens they witnessed a funny sight. Brownie, 
the Shetland pony, stood close to the high wire-netting gate that 
separated his yard from the chicken yard. The hens were gathered 
close to the fence and were clucking away, apparently to Brownie, 
who seemed to be listening intently. Suddenly Brownie shoved 
the button fastener up and pushed in the gate, letting all the hens 
out. Of course, they made straight for the gardens, so the children 
shood them back and then tied the gate. When they told Aunt 
Mary, she said she had noticed the hens out and the gate open 
several times since she had bought Brownie, but never had guessed 


12 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


that he let them out. Surely the hens had asked him to open the 
gate, and he could understand their language. 

It would be impossible to relate all the pleasant experiences 
that these little children had during that first visit upon the farm. 
They both learned to milk cows and churn butter, and Charlie 
learned to swim in the river close by. Both became quite expert 
fishermen. Then the delightful rides on Brownie and the big 
bouquets they picked of wild flowers and of Aunt’s old-fashioned 
garden flowers ! 

Although they did want to see their parents, still they were 
very sorry when they had to bid good-bye to Aunt Mary and 
the farm. 

And Aunt Mary, who had found them such a comfort and 
pleasure, was so lonely after they left that she soon made their 
parents a long visit. While she was visiting them, she often was 
away from their home hours at a time alone. She would explain 
that she’d been visiting her friend, Mrs. Smith. Although they 
urged her to spend Xmas with them, she left for home upon 
the twenty-fourth, the very day before that glad holiday. She 
made them promise to spend the next day with Mrs. Smith, 
though both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were very loathe to visit a lady 
whom they did not know. However, to please Aunt Mary, on 
Xmas morning they rang the door-bell of a beautiful new house 
on one of the finest residence streets of the city and inquired for 
Mrs. Smith of the maid who opened the door. “I am Mrs. Smith, 
ma’am, 'Jennie Smith, whom Mrs. Mason engaged to do housework 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


13 


here. If you are her folks, the Thomas family, just walk in and 
read the note she’s left for you.” They did so, the note reading 
as follows: 

“My Dear Charles, Mamie, Charlie and Grace — I wish 
you all a most merry Xmas. At the National Bank you will find 
the deed to this residence and furniture, etc., which I give to you 
as a Xmas present. Enclosed find a check with which to defray 
the extra expense of running this new home. I intend to send you 
a similar one- each Xmas. 

“As you know, I have quite an abundance of this world’s 
goods, and now I wish to see those I love best enjoy it while I live. 

“I intend to be a frequent visitor in your home and wish to 
have all of you visit me upon the farm every summer. 

“With much love to you all, 

“Aunt Mary.” 

For a while no one could speak; they were all breathless with 
surprise and joy. Then a glad shout went up from two little 
throats, while big tears rolled down their parents’ cheeks. 

Next came an inspection of the beautiful house. The rooms 
were large and elegantly furnished. Each bed-room was especially 
suited to the individual tastes of the one who was to occupy it. The 
children found desks and book-cases, with good books upon the 
shelves, in their dainty rooms. And when they inspected the stable 
they found a fine horse and trap and little Brownie, who had been 
sent in from the farm. 

When they sat down in their new dining room to a sumptuous ’ 


14 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


dinner, served upon delicate china, they were quite too full of joy 
and excitement to eat much. 

“Isn’t it all just like a beautiful fairy tale,” exclaimed 
little Grace. 

“Yes,” said her mamma, “it certainly is, and dear Aunt Mary 
is our good fairy.” 

“Yes,” chimed in Charlie, “she is certainly our good Xmas 
fairy. Three cheers for dear Aunt Mary! May she long live, 
healthy and happy!” And all the happy Thomas family joined in 
the cheers. 








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THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


17 


THE FAIRY WAND 

o, indeed; ril not give my old doll Mamie 
away ! I’ll break her first ! What if I don’t 
play with her any more ! She’s my doll, and 
no one else can have her !” The selfish little 
girl who was speaking stamped her foot 
angrily to emphasize what she was saying. 
“But, Edith, think of poor little Lena. She 
has no doll, nor anything else to play with. 
Now that you have your beautiful new dolly, 
I think you might give Mamie to Lena. Mamma don’t want her 
little girl to be selfish. Come, give me Mamie to put into* the 
package I am making up for the Peterson family. I can wrap 

I 

her up in the dress I’ve made for Lena and you may go with Max 
when he takes the New Year’s basket and see Lena’s face brighten 
with joy when she opens her package.” 

“No; she can’t have my doll, I tell you! I don’t like Lena 
Peterson. She’s stuck up because she’s ahead of me at school. I 
won’t speak to a girl that’s dressed in rags and patches, and neither 
will any of the nice girls.” 

Poor Mrs. Brown turned away with a deep sigh. Why was 
it that her darling child was growing up so selfish and unkind? 




i8 THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 

Surely she had done everything possible to teach her to be generous 
and loving! It often seemed to her that all her work had been in 
vain — that her Edith would never grow into a sweet, noble woman 
who would be a help in the world. 

All that day, though it was the last day in the old year, little 
Edith was cross and fretful. Nothing pleased her, and she finally 
went to bed crying lustily over some fancied wrong. She would 
not say her prayer, and her mother kissed her “good-night” with 
tears in her eyes, but Edith was too angry to notice that. 

Late in the night the little girl awakened. A beam of moon- 
light lightened her little room, and she beheld a dainty little creature 
standing by her bed, gazing thoughtfully at her. She knew at 
once that this was a fairy, though she had never before seen one. 
The fairy spoke thus in sweet, silvery tones : “Edith, I am the 
fairy of the New Year. The old year has just departed, and I am 
here to help you this year. I am told that during the past year 
you have been selfish, ’disobedient and unhappy. I find that you 
have loving parents and a beautiful home — everything that a child 
should want — and yet you do not appreciate these blessings. I 
have just visited a poor home where there’s a little girl always 
cheerful and kind, though she has little to be grateful for and 
very much to make her unhappy. I have decided to change you 
two little girls — to put you in Lena Peterson’s place and to put her 
in yours. And I shall keep you in your new home until you show 
that you have become worthy of the blessings God has bestowed 
upon you. You see this little golden stick? This is a fairy wand. 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


19 


and when I touch you with it you will fall asleep and awake in 
L^na Peterson’s bed. Don’t try to return home until it is my wish. 
Good conduct alone will hasten your return.” Then Edith felt 
the touch of the wand upon her forehead and she knew no more. 

Next mornings before she had opened her eyes, she thought 
what a strange dream she had had in the night, but even as the 
thought passed through her mind, an angry voice called out : “Get 
up, you lazy Lena! Don’t you hear the baby crying? Are you 
going to lie abed all day?” 

She opened her eyes in astonishment and beheld herself in 
Lena’s poor, squalid little home. In another corner of the room 
lay a pale, sickly-looking woman upon a bed, and near the stove 
sat a big, ugly-looking man, while beside her upon a bed of straw 
lay a homely, crying baby. She pinched herself to find if she were 
really awake, and again the ugly voice snarled : “You hear me, 
girl! Get up — and do it quickly!” Terribly frightened, she 
hastily slipped into the shabby clothes beside the bed and took up 
the crying babe. The sick woman called out: “Fix his food, 
Lena. He’s hungry.” 

“But where is his food?” she replied. “What do you give 

/ 

him to eat ?” 

“Is the child crazy?” yelled the man, springing to his feet. 

“Now, Hans, don’t strike her,” coaxed Lena’s mother. “She 
hasn’t quite awakened from a sound sleep. Just bring the pail 
of milk to me, child, and get me some hot water from the kettle, 
and I can fix it for him.” 


20 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


All that day she did what she was bid in a dazed sort of way. 
Taking scoldings and even blows from the half-drunken father of 
the family and, by her seeming stupidity, causing Lena’s mother to 
fear that the child was really sick. She would have run away and 
gone home had not a glance into the broken looking-glass assured 
her that her own parents wouldn’t know her, as she had assumed 
the face and form of Lena. Besides, she had no decent garment 
to wear out of doors. 

She had asked for the new dress which she knew her own 
mother had sent, Lena, but the mother had whispered to her that 
the father had sold it for whisky. So the days dragged on. Some- 
times she had felt inclined to be very cross, but the memory of 
what the fairy had said about good conduct hastening her return 
home kept her kind and cheerful. She had been with the Peter- 
sons nearly a week, and had begun to fear that she would be 
obliged to go to school as poor Lena Peterson, when the baby was 
taken sick. Mrs. Peterson bid her go at once to Mrs. Brown and 
ask for medicine for the sick child. She said : “Gk> to the back 
door, Lena, and ask very politely for Mrs. Brown; then tell her 
just how the baby seems.” 

Imagine how she felt when the door was opened by her own 
mother, with a little girl standing beside her who looked just as 
she had looked a week ago. When she tried to speak a big lump 
came into her throat and choked her, so that she could scarcely 
make them understand her errand. How she longed to leap into 
her mother’s arms and cover her dear face with kisses! Dear. 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


21 


kind Mrs. Brown patted her upon the head and said that she was a 
dear little girl to love her baby brother so much — thinking she 
was crying on account of his sickness. Lena, who stood there in 
her place, held out the beautiful new Xmas doll and begged her 
to take it home with her. Mrs. Brown smiled and kissed the child 
tenderly for her generosity, and then hurried from the room, tak- 
ing the cook with her, to help find the medicine. 

The two little changelings looked at each other in wonder 
and sorrow. “Oh,” said the real Lena, “how I should like to go 
home to take care of mamma and the baby!” And the real Edith 
sobbed out : “Oh, my mamma, my own mamma didn’t know me I” 

Suddenly the New Year’s fairy entered the room. She smiled 
sweetly upon Edith and said; “You have done well. I believe if 
you return to your blessings now, you’ll never again cease to prize 
them. As for Lena, she is always a good girl, and I shall see that 
she gets her reward.” Then she touched the girls again with her 
magic wand and suddenly each was transformed back to her own 
form and face and clothes. Then the fairy vanished just as Mrs. 
Brown entered the kitchen. 

When Lena went home she rode in the Brown’s family car- 
riage, and it was heaped with good things for herself and her 
sick mother and baby brother. And when, a little later, Mr. Peter- 
son went away never again to return to his family, Mr. and Mrs. 
Brown had Mrs. Peterson and her children moved into a cosy 


22 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


cottage, and they took good care of all of them until. Lena grew 
up and earned a fine salary as a teacher. 

Edith grew to be as good and generous and loving a woman 
as her mother, and was a constant joy to her beloved parents and a 
real help in the world. 





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THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


25 


GGY’S DISCOVERY 

LITTLE girl Stood by the cooking-stove stirring 
some gruel. Big tears were falling into the 
saucepan and salting the gruel, and the 
swelled eyelids were almost as red as the hair 
that crowned the round, fat, little face. 
Little Peggy was really a comical sight, so 
short and fat, with a face covered by big 
brown freckles and a saucy little pug nose. 
Yet, usually, few would pass her by without 
noticing how bright and happy was the little face underneath the 
short, stubby, brick-red hair. 

The day upon which this story begins, all the joy seemed to 
have gone out of her life, and her poor little heart was filled with 
woe. Her mother was lying in the next room, pale and worn with 
sickness. A few hours since, the doctor had called and had left 
a little medicine, with the advice that his patient go at once to the 
cool mountains, as probably nothing else would build up her 
strength. It was easy advice to give, but not so easy to follow, 
and Peggy had heard her mother say : “But, Doctor, that is impos- 
sible. You must give me medicine to make me well; I cannot go 


PE 




26 


THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


away.” And, young as she was, she knew the reason her mother 
couldn’t go. She had watched the worried, care-worn look grow 
upon her father’s face, and she knew that money, or rather the 
want of it, was causing her parents many sleepless nights. The 
days were now very warm, and warmer ones would soon come, 
and she felt that the doctor was right, that her beloved mother 
could never gain strength in the close, hot air of their small apart- 
ment. But she dried her eyes and tried to look cheerful when she 
took the gruel to her mother, and coaxed her to take it all. Then 
she stole down the stairs and out upon the walk to meet her father. 
She told him what the doctor had said, adding: “Oh, papa, don’t 
you think we could send her? I can get a position as cash-girl 
down town, and still find time to cook your meals. We must have 
her go — some way.” Her father kissed the eager little face and 
answered: “Yes, dear, we will have her go; but don’t you worry 
about it, my dear little housekeeper.” 

That evening her father sold his highly-prized watch, a gift 
from his father, now dead, and with the money he sent his wife, 
with Peggy to care for her, up into the health-giving mountains. 

Peggy’s father had a small grocery, and during those hard 
times had found it very difficult to pay his bills and save out 
enough to support his family, even in the cheapest possible way. 
Failure seemed almost inevitable — then what could he do? No one 
wanted more help. The great question with merchants was how to 
pay the clerks they already had. How glad he was to sell his 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


27 


watch and so be able to send his wife away for the much-needed 
change. 

* * ♦ * ♦ >|c :)c 

Peggy and her mother found a boarding-house with a kindly 
old couple who had lived many years in the heart of the great 
mountains. The invalid began at once to improve, and was soon 
able to walk about. One day their kind host took them for a drive, 
and while they were enjoying the grandeur of the scenery he told 
them many interesting stories of old, stage-coach days. One of 
these stories particularly interested his hearers. In those days the 
coaches were often help up by wicked desperadoes, and once there 
,had been a great robbery close by their host’s cabin. None of the 
passengers were held up, but a heavy oak chest, filled with ten thou- 
sand dollars in gold and silver currency that was being expressed 

to the bank at F , a thriving mining camp, was taken. 

Though searching parties were soon scouring the mountains for the 
bandits, neither they nor the chest of money had ever been found. 

Peggy was especially interested in the stolen chest, and asked 
many questions about it, finally avowing her intentions of trying to 
find it,, as their host had mentioned that the bandits had probably 
hidden it before they fled the country, as so heavy a burden would 
have hindered their flight. Her mother laughed at the idea, but 
true to her word, the little girl began to search behind bushes and to 
upturn stones as soon as they returned from their drive. 

That night Peggy and her mother were awakened by a terrific 
thunder storm. The heavy claps of thunder and vivid flashes of 


28 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


lightning so terrified the child that she hid her face in the pillow 
and cried with fear, until her mother had assured her that Gkxl 
was in the storm, and would care for her as well as upon the bright- 
est, most peaceful day. Then she stood with her mother by the 
window and watched the furious storm. Suddenly there was a 
terrific crash of thunder and a blinding flash of lightning, and they 
saw a huge tree struck and torn up by its roots upon the mountain 
side, not two hundred feet away. Then suddenly, as though having 
fulfilled its purpose, the storm ceased and all was quiet again among 
those everlasting hills. But the shivering mother and child who 
had watched the awful work of the storm king laid awake for a 
long time. 

Next morning, bright and early, they climbed up to where the’ 
grand old pine lay stricken upon the mountain. Peggy, with a 
child’s curiosity, stood digging with a long stick into the hole that 
the tree’s fall had left, when she suddenly cried out : “Look, 
mamma ! See what I’ve found ! I do believe it is the chest of 
money!” And there, sure enough, deep in the hole lay a chest of 
oak, bound with heavy bands of iron. Peggy’s mother, after tak- 
ing a good look at it, had the little girl help her to cover it up again 
with rocks and sand, and then telegraphed her husband to come up 
at once. When he arrived, and had forced open the cover of the 
chest, they were dazzled by the heaps of shining gold and silver. 
They took it at once to the city and had it locked in a bank vault. 
Then Peggy’s papa sent a lawyer to inquire what the express com- 
pany would give to recover the stolen money, and as the company 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


29 


had never expected to find it at all, they offered to give the finder half 
of the contents of the chest. So Peggy received five thousand dol- 
lars. The money was such a help to her father that he afterwards 
became a very wealthy merchant. 

If you could see Peggy now, you would not recognize her 
from the description at the beginning of this story. The brick-red 
hair has turned to a beautiful shade of auburn and grown long and 
silky; the freckles have all disappeared from her face and left a 
beautiful complexion, and she has grown into a tall, slender, grace- 
ful young woman. She is no longer called Peggy, but is spoken 
of as “beautiful Miss Mary.” 




‘ *7r<avelled elicit 
kot ^afternoon, vatv'ly 
^ S€arc)nin<^ for some 

f<im»hov object e\cn^ tKe. roadside. 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


31 


THE WANDERINGS OF BILLY-GOAT 


ILLY-GOAT was as fine a specimen of his kind 
as could be found. His coat was fine and 
soft, and was a combination of black and 
white. He was a proud little fellow, but as 
gentle as the proverbial lamb. He lived upon 
a farm and was the property of two jolly, 
mischievous, little twin boys called Teddy 
and Tad. Some days his little masters kept 
him pretty steadily upon the trot, driving 
round and about the little farm. They had a cunning little red 
cart and harness for him.- Billy dearly loved his little masters, 
and they loved him, too, but sometimes he found life rather 
monotonous, and wished that he could leave the farm and see some- 
thing of the great world. 

One day he told his old friend Nanny-Goat of his ambition 
to get out and see something outside the farm gate. She inquired : 
“Then why don’t you go to the city?” 

“But how can I get out? You know that I cannot open the 
big gate.” 

Now Nanny had a jealous disposition, and had long been 
envious of Billy’s pretty harness, so she suggested that he hide 




32 THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 

himself among the sheep that his master was to send to town the 
next morning, and then he could get a nice trip to the city. Nanny, 
who was old and experienced, well knew why those sheep were 
to be taken to the city, but she didn’t give poor little Billy a hint 
of that. So the goat succeeded in getting into the midst of the 
drove next morning, without attracting the attention of the 
drovers. 

At first he thought it great fun to run along the wide road, 
pass by other farms and ford the shallow streams, but by and by, 
as the sun rose higher in the heavens and the air grew very hot, 
he began to wish himself at home under his favorite tree, where 
he could keep cool and take his noon-day nap. And then he grew 
hungry and wished that Teddy and Tad could bring him his good 
dinner, as they always had, and feeling tired and hungry and home- 
sick, he gradually dropped back to the rear of the drove, when he 
heard this frightful conversation between the drovers ; 

“Yes, indeed, this drive will cut up into a nice lot of lamb and 
mutton for the market. Lamb is very high now, and our master 
will make a lot of money from this sale,” remarked one. 

Poor little Billy began to tremble violently with fear at the 
sudden knowledge that this drove was being taken to the slaughter- 
house, instead of upon a sight-seeing trip to the great city, as 
Nanny had inferred. 

He at once made his plans to slip away, and to hurry back 
again to the comfortable farm. So he slipped behind a bush and 
remained hidden until the sheep and drovers had passed. Then 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


33 


he Started for home, resolved never again to leave the dear 
old farm. 

But alas, he soon came to the intersection of two roads and 
couldn’t remember which one he had just traveled over. So he 
guessed wrong and traveled all that hot afternoon, vainly search- 
^ ing for some familiar object along the roadside. At length, de- 
spondent, and fearful lest he should not reach home that night, he 
dragged himself to a mound of hay in an unfenced field and, after 
eating a good meal, lay down and went to sleep. 

Early next morning he was awakened by the sound of many 
voices, and opened his eyes to behold many children hopping about 
him and coaxing their father to let them keep the goat. At first 
the father was in favor of making mutton of him, but finally con- 
sented to let them have him to play with, remarking that goats 
could live upon nails, tin cans, etc., and so he’d be no expense to 
keep. Poor Billy almost wished that he had stayed with the drove 
and been slaughtered, for he did not fancy such a diet as the man 
had prescribed for him. But the children hailed the decision with 
shouts of delight, and soon began to haul and pull poor Billy about. 

The next few days were pretty hard ones for Billy. They 
hitched him to a heavy cart and then all the youngsters would pile 
into it and beat him to keep him upon the trot, until poor Billy 
would think that he would surely drop dead. When they were 
through driving, they would hitch him to a post with such a short 
rope that he couldn’t lie down, and they gave him so little to eat 
that he began to think he could even eat the nails and tin cans the 


34 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


children’s father had mentioned upon that unfortunate first morn- 
ing of their acquaintance. 

Ah, if he could only break that hateful rope and get away! 
Tired and faint as he was, he believed he could run very fast to 
escape his tormentors. 

Ah, for one glimpse of his dear, kind, little masters, Teddy 
and Tad! Why did he ever leave them and “Home, Sweet Home?” 
The big tears of remorse often ran down his nose, as he thought 
of the happy life he had left. 

At length, by chewing for many nights upon the rope, he 
succeeded in breaking it, and started off early one morning before 
the family were awake. He hurried along for hours, lest they 
overtake him, but as the day grew hotter his gait grew slower 
until, finally, he dropped down beside the road too weak to take 
another step. 

After a time he heard wheels approaching, but didn’t even 
glance up until he heard two joyous voices shout: “Mamma, look! 
Here’s our Billy-Goat!” Then, tired as he was, he pranced about 
in glee and lovingly and penitently licked the hands of his little 
masters. They tied him behind the carriage and drove the horse 
at a slow walk, for they could see how very tired Billy was. When 
they reached the farm they gave him a big dinner, and then let him 
do nothing but sleep and eat for several days, for they could see 
that he’d had a hard time while away. But they could never guess 
what an experience he had been through, or how penitent he felt. 

Nanny-Goat was the only living thing upon the place that 


THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


35 


didn’t rejoice over his return. She had been wearing his pretty 
harness and drawing his red cart during his absence, and had felt 
assured that he was cut up and sold for chops before this, so that 
at first she thought she saw a ghost when he reappeared. 

And Billy, having discovered her to be a false friend, never 
held any further conversation with her. But he told the old dog 
of her treachery, and the news soon spread all over the farm, and 
after that Nanny was shunned by every animal upon the place, and 
lived a very lonely life. 


As for Billy, he never could be coaxed outside the farm gate 
again, and, as he drew his dear little masters about in their red 
cart, he felt that he was the mpst fortunate goat in all the world. 




an 


d the, dcQY'est’ of chwms 


THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


37 


THE TWINS’ ADVENTURE 

RED AND Grace were twins of eight years, and 
were the dearest of chums, neither enjoying 
aught that could not be shared with the 
other. Their parents had two other children, 
Elizabeth, a tall girl of eleven years of age, 
and a dear baby boy. Their mamma liked to 
keep the twins near home, as she felt much 
easier about them when they were within 
calling distance. Not that they were naughty 
children, only rather too venturesome — and thus often in trouble. 
One beautiful June their Sabbath school was to give an excursion 
far up into the mountains. Mamma had said that Elizabeth could 
go with her young friends, but that she couldn’t think of such a 
thing as to trust the twins to go without her, and that she must 
remain at home to take care of baby. It was a sad disappointment 
to the children, who couldn’t understand why Sister Elizabeth 
should have all the good times — just because she was a little older 
than themselves. 

“Dear mamma, we are always kept at home. Please let us 
go this time,” they urged. “We’ll be very careful and stay with 



38 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


Elizabeth all day, and do just as she wishes. Indeed we will. Only 
try us — just this once.” 

When papa was consulted, he was in favor of letting them go. 
He said it was true that they had been kept too closely at home 
and missed many good times. He suggested that Gus, the trust- 
worthy man who worked about the place, be sent to take charge 
of the children. At length mamma consented, though reluctantly, 
for she greatly feared that some harm would come to her 
precious twins. 

The picnic day arrived — a bright and glorious morning. 
Mamma put them up a big basket of goodies for the lunch and 
then kissed the happy, rosy faces of her darlings, calling after 
them many words of advice as they hurried away to the depot. 

What a day they had ! First, the long, beautiful ride on the 
train; then the jolly games and the good luncheon in the picnic 
grounds; then long climbs up the mountains until their little legs 
ached with the exertion and they were glad to get back into the 
cars for their return trip. 

The cars were partly filled when our little party got aboard, 
and so they could not all sit together, but Fred and Grace managed 
to find a seat at the rear end of the car and sat there together, 
chatting gayly of the events of that great day. All went beauti- 
fully until, when within a few miles of the city, the train slowed 
up suddenly. Fred stuck his head out of the window to see if he 
could discover the reason for the change of speed and the wind 
blew off his hat and sent it flying over the prairie. 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


39 


Now the hat was a new straw one of which Fred was very 
proud, so, without a thought of the consequences, he dashed out 
of the car door and jumped from the platform. His little sister 
had not even time to call out, “Don’t Fred.” 

That Grace should follow him had never occurred to Fred — 
but the thought of letting Fred go without her was too much for 
the devoted little sister, so, in an instant, she, too, had jumped. 
There they stood, — two little tots, all alone on the broad prairie, 
with their train rushing away from them, and not a house in sight. 
Without a thought of their loneliness, they began to search for 
the lost hat. For a long time they hunted, moving about among 
the high weeds, but all in vain. 

At last the fast-fading daylight warned them to turn home- 
wards. 

“Oh, Freddie, aren’t we a long, long way from home? See, 
it’s getting dark! Do you know the way? Perhaps we’re lost.” 
Poor, frightened Grace began to cry. 

“Pshaw, I wish you’d staid on the train ! Girls are such cry- 
babies. Course I know the way home. Just have to follow the 
railroad track — that’s easy enough. I’m not silly enough to be 
afraid of the dark.” And then, ashamed that he had spoken so 
sharply to his dear sister, he added: “Come on; sis. Take hold 
of my hand, and I’ll take care of you. Of course, women folks 
can’t be as brave as we men.” 

So on they trudged, their short legs aching and their stomachs 
faint with hunger, for they had traveled far since the early 


40 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


luncheon at the picnic grounds. Finally they reached a railroad 
bridge crossing a small creek. Grace stopped short. “I can’t 
cross that in the dark,” she exclaimed. “Oh, yes you can. I’ll help 
you,” said Fred reassuringly. “It’s no use to say anything more 
about it. I simply can’t cross it. I’d fall through and get killed 
if I tried.” And the poor, tired, little girl sat down upon the 
ground and began to sob aloud. 

“Never mind, Gracie, we’ll find a wagon road. There must be 
one close by,” said the little brother. 

But though they walked a long way, they couldn’t find the 
road, and at last, spying a dim light in the distance, they hurried 
toward it and soon found themselves in front of a log house, sur- 
rounded by a fence. 

“Oh, Fred, I’m afraid to open the gate; they may keep dogs.” 

“Then you stay outside, and I’ll go in and inquire the way.” 

“No; I’ll go with you,” she decided, trying to swallow the 
big lump in her throat. Fortunately no dog appeared, as they 
made their way to the door. Their knock was answered by. a big, 
rough-looking man, who held a lamp in his hand to enable him 
to see the intruders, for now it was quite dark. 

“Well, I declare,” he exclaimed, when he had heard their 
story. “You kids have had a pretty tough experience. You come 
right in and have some victuals, and then I’ll show you the road.” 

Fred was about to accept the invitation, when Grace pulled 
his sleeve and hastily answered : “No, thank you; we’re not hungry. 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 41 

'v 

aM we really must hurry home. We just want you to tell us how 
to find the road, please.” 

‘That ril do for you, little Missy ; I’ll just go along with you 
till you’re safely headed toward the city. And don’t you be afraid 
of me, if I am a pretty tough-looking customer. Away back in the 
States, I have a little girl of my own, just about your size, and I 
get mighty lonesome to see her, too.” And the man brushed a 
tear off his cheek. 

Then they walked on with him quite trustingly, and when 
they bid him good-bye they felt as though they were parting from 
an old friend. 

“Now, this here’s your road, and you’re about three miles 
from the city. Wish I had a nag, so I could drive you in, for I 
can see you’re mighty tired. Well, good-bye — and good luck 
to you.” 

Oh, that long three miles ! It seemed like thirty. But at last, 
foot-sore and trembling with weariness, they climbed the steps of 
their own home. A bright light burned in the hall, and through 
the open door they could hear their mother weeping. 

“What’s the matter, mamma?” they called out in alarm. 

“Oh, my darlings,— my dear lost babies! Thank God, I have 
you safely home again!” their mother exclaimed, as she folded 
them to her breast. 

Then she was told their story, and she was too thankful to 
reprimand them, but hastily prepared some supper, and after they 
had eaten, bathed their poor, little feet and tucked them into bed. 


42 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


She then listened for their father, for he and Elizabeth had 
returned to the depot to send dispatches to the way-stations in- 
quiring for the children, and then driven around to ask many of 
the picnickers if they knew aught of their lost ones. As there were 
no telephones in those days, the mother could not way-lay them 
by that means to tell the good news. 

When she heard the carriage wheels stop in front she hurried 
to the gate, calling out : “John, dear, they’re here — safely home !” 

Fred and Grace are now grown-up people, and have little ones 
of their own to love and to worry over, but they often say they are 
thankful that their children do not play such pranks as they used 
to play. And they do not wonder that their mother’s head is 
crowned with snow. 






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THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


45 


CLOVER AND HER BABIES 

ADGE lived with her parents upon a small farm 
adjoining a very pretty little village. She 
was christened Margaret, but her friends 
called her either “Madge” or “Little White 
Sunbonnet.” Now, wasn’t the latter a very 
funny name for a little girl? All through 
the long summer, and on some bright days 
in the winter, she wore a little white sun- 
bonnet to protect her delicate pink-and-white 
skin. She had the beautiful complexion that often accompanies 
auburn hair, and her mother took great care that it should not be 
marred by freckles. 

When she was a tiny maiden her mother would exclaim, when 
she would come bounding into the house, “Just to see mamma a 
minute” ; “Here comes mother’s dear Little White Sunbonnet,” 
and gradually the neighbors borrowed the expression, “Little 
White Sunbonnet.” 

Their house stood at the end of the farm nearest the village, 
so Madge had not far to walk to school. Several of her dearest 
friends lived close by, so that she had her playmates. 



46 


THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


You would search far to find a happier, more contented child 
than little Madge. Though her parents were quite poor, she never 
lacked for interesting play-things. The calves, puppies, kittens and 
baby pigs were the dearest of these. 

One morning, at breakfast, her father exclaimed: “Come, 
Madge, you must think up a name for the new baby.” 

“A new baby, father! Where is it?” 

“Oh, I thought you must have heard me tell your mother that 
Clover has a baby.” 

Clover was the pet of all their cows, and the little girl lost 
no time in running out to the pasture to see Clover’s baby. Such a 
dear little red calf, with a white nose! Madge selected “Clover- 
Blossom” for its name, which they all thought quite appropriate. 

She made a great pet of Clover-Blossom, and soon, if she 
stepped into the big field where Clover and her calf were and called 
“Clover-Blossom,” the little thing would kick up its heels and come 
bounding towards her like a pup. She would eat things from 
Madge’s hand, and whenever she saw the little girl coming along 
the road she would push her head out between the bars and call for 
her. Her call sounded like “Ma-Ma,” and so Madge called herself 
Clover-Blossom’s other mother, and called the calf “My dear child,” 
which greatly amused her friends. 

s 

One sweet summer day, as Madge was playing in the meadow, 
she heard the shrill whistle of an engine, and looked up in time to 
see Clover-Blossom calmly munching some grass which grew be- 
tween the rails, while the train was rapidly approaching. There 


THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


47 


was not a moment to spare, so the frig^htened little g^rl just called 
out “Clover-Blossom!” as loudly as she could, and the calf came 
bounding down the embankment just in time. 

When Madge told her father of the narrow escape, he said: 
“Now I shall give you Clover-Blossom for your very own. You 
saved her life. I hope that she will grow up to be as fine a milk 
cow as her mother is, and always be fond of her little mistress.” 

You can imagine that Madge was very proud of her new pos- 
session. She already owned two pigs, a lamb and several pups, 
kittens and chickens, so she felt quite wealthy. 

She would not allow her father to brand the calf, as he did 
the others on the farm, for she knew that the hot iron, with which 
they burn the marks upon the hides, would hurt her pet, but this 
was the occasion of a great deal of trouble and anxiety to her a 
little later. 

A bad man who lived near them stole the calf and had his 
brand burnt upon her side. They hunted everywhere for the 
missing calf, and finally had about given up finding her, when, 
one day, as Madge was passing the wicked man’s field, a calf pushed 
its head through the bars and called “Ma-Ma.” When the little 
girl ran to the fence and rubbed the pretty white nose, crying: 
“Oh, my child I my dear Clover-Blossom I I am so glad that I’ve 
found you!” the little thing trembled with joy, and big tears ran 
from her soft brown eyes. Then Madge ran home and told her 
father, who soon made the wicked neighbor return the calf, and 


48 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


could have put him into prison, too, had he not taken pity upon 
the man’s wife and children. 

A few years passed, and Clover-Blossom, now called Blossom, 
for a shorter name, had a dear little calf of her own. Of course, 
this calf was also Madge’s, and she named her “Sweet-Clover,” 
declaring that all Clover’s descendants must bear her name, either 
as a prefix or an affix to their given names. She should name the 
next Clover-Leaf, then Clover-Field, etc. Sweet-Clover’s name 
was soon abbreviated to “Sweetie.” 

It was very funny to see old Clover take care of her grand- 
daughter. She seemed to consider Blossom quite too young and 
giddy to properly bring up this calf. It was plainly to be seen 
that Blossom resented this, and preferred to take the whole care 
of her own baby. 

Madge always milked Blossom herself, so one day, when the 
little girl was too ill to go out into the barn-yard. Blossom would 
not allow anyone to milk her, but kicked over the pail and behaved 
very naughty. 

The next evening, as Madge was still confined to the house, a 
young girl who was visiting on the farm put on Madge’s white 
sunbonnet and succeeded in milking Blossom before she caught a 
glimpse of the stranger’s face beneath the bonnet. When Blossom 
found that she had been deceived, she kicked with all her might, 
but, fortunately, the girl with the milk-pail was safely out of 
her reach. 

As “Little White Sunbonnet” grew older, she began to wish 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


49 


that she might go to college, after she should finish the course of 
study in the village school. So she planned to earn enough to pay 
her way through. She sold milk and eggs and butter to her friends 
in the village and put aside her money for her college expenses. 

She studied hard and became a very brilliant young woman, 
of whom her relatives and friends were justly proud. 

In after years, when she spoke of the educational advantages 
\with which she had been favored, she would always declare that 
she owed everything to Clover and her babies. 






9 


t 


/ 


✓ 


0 


9 




THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


SI 


CHARLEY-BOY 

HEN Captain Carter’s ship was lost at sea, all 
the crew went down with her. Many homes 
were left desolate, and none more so than the 
brave captain’s, for his widow and four chil- 
dren not only had their great grief to bear, 
but also had to face actual poverty. The 
neighbors all pitied poor, little Mrs. Carter, 
but, as they were not blessed with any more 
means than they needed for the support of 
their own little ones, they could give the poor widow little else than 
their genuine sympathy. The children were all quite young, and, 
as the neighbors said, it seemed a pity that the two oldest were 
girls. The boy was scarcely more than a baby when his father 
died, and there was also a baby girl. 

The poor widow took in sewing and nursed the sick, and did 
her best to keep her little brood together. 

Soon the two older girls could earn their own living — one 
being apprenticed to a dress-maker, the other taking care of a 
friend’s children. 

But, as the little mother was not strong, it was a great tax 
upon her to provide for the two younger children. 




52 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


The lx)y had always been called “Boy” during- his infancy, 
but as he grew older his family had prefixed the name Charley, and 
the name “Charley-boy” had stuck to him all through his child- 
hood. Even now, though he is a gray-haired man, the friends of 
his youth still call him “Charley-boy.” 

By the time Charley-boy was nine years of age, he realized 
his mother’s hardships, and felt that he should now be a help to 
her, instead of eating the bread her tired hands earned. He had 
already earned a little money occasionally, cleaning off snow in 
winter and picking berries and cherries in summer, but there was 
little in his home village for a small boy to do to earn anything, 
and so we find him feeling quite discouraged one beautiful autumn 
afternoon, standing in front of the grocery store, hands in pockets 
and stamping his bare feet to keep them warm. 

, A farmer drove up and stopped his horses. “I’ll hold your 
horses, sir,” exclaimed the little fellow, jumping forward. 

“Wish you would, sonny. I’ll give you a ride for it.” 

When the farmer came out he let the boy sit up on the seat 
beside him, proud as he could be to think he was having a ride, 
and after a fine span of horses, too. 

“Whose boy are you?” inquired the farmer. 

“The widow Carter’s, sir.” 

“Indeed ! I used to know the Captain well. Mighty pleasant 
man your father was, my boy. How does your mother get along 
these days ? Let me see, you have some sisters, haven’t you ?” 

The boy answered his questions and then, encouraged by the 


THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


S3 


man’s interest, asked: “Don’t you want a boy to help you on 
your farm, sir?” 

Farmer Jones looked at the lad. He saw a small, frail-looking 
little chap, with a baby face under a tangled mat of curly yellow 
hair. He surely didn’t look as though he would be of much 
account upon a farm, but there was an earnestness in the big gray 
eyes that appealed at once to the kind-hearted farmer. “Well,” 
said he, “mother and wife have both been after me to get a boy 
to do the chores about the place, but I’m afraid they’ll think you 
are too small.” 

“But I’m strong,” exclaimed the boy, extending his arm and 
clenching his fist to show the muscles. “I’m about as strong as a 
man. I whipped Jim Allen last week, and he’s twelve years old. 
Oh, yes. I’m very strong, and I can work hard. Just try me.” 

“Well,” said the farmer, slowly, “perhaps you would do; how 
soon could, you come?” 

“Right now, sir ; that is, if you’ll go with me to ask mother.” 

When they told the widow their errand, she cried out: “Oh, 
no, iT^o; I couldn’t let my little boy, my only son, leave home. I 
couldn’t let him go so far from home.” 

Fifteen miles seemed a long way to her. 

“Oh, come, mother, say I can go. Then I’ll be no more ex- 
pense to you, and before long I can earn money for you. I’m 
getting to be a big boy now,” and he straightened up as tall as 
possible. 

“I’ll be good to him, ma’am. I’ll send him to the district 


54 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINn BOOK 


school, and clothe and feed him, and teach him to be a good 
farmer,” added Mr. Jones to the boy’s appeal. 

At length they won over the little woman, and she hurriedly 
packed his few belongings and clasped her boy to her breast in a 
farewell embrace. Then she stood upon the steps watching the 
little form upon the wagon seat until it disappeared from view. 
How her poor heart ached, or how many tears she shed over this 
separation, no one but herself ever guessed. 

As for the boy, he had shed some tears at parting with his 
mother, whom he loved very dearly, but soon his mind was full of 
the future, for was not this the beginning of his career? He kept 
chatting away to the man at his side, asking questions about the 
farm, his eyes bright with excitement. But when they reached 
the long, dark stretch of woods through which they had to drive, 
his teeth began to chatter with fear, as he had always imagined 
.that the woods were haunted by ghosts after dark. He crept upon 
the seat closer to his companion and wished himself safely at home 
with mother and little sister May. 

Mr. Jones, not dreaming of the child’s terror, beguiled the 
time away by tales of ghastly deeds committed by Indians and 
outlaws years ago. Suddenly a little hand clutched his arm and a 
shrill voice, quivering with fear, screamed: “Oh, look! look! 
There is a ghost!” 

The ghost proved to be a tall white birch, which a parting 
gleam of the setting sun lightened up amid the dark pines. 

You may well believe that the child was glad enough when 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


55 


they reached the home-like old, yellow farm-house, which was their 
destination. 

After putting up the horses, they hastened into the big, warm 
kitchen, where a cheerful wood fire burned in the old-fashioned 
fireplace. An old lady sat beside the fire, while a young woman 
was arranging the supper table, and a little girl of four years was 
playing about the room. 

The child ran joyously to welcome her father, while the two 
women glanced at the boy, and then looked questioningly at 
the man. 

It was apparent that the farmer was uneasy as to the welcome 
the boy would get, as he explained : “Mother, you see Fve brought 
you home a boy to do the chores for you and Eliza. You know 
you’ve often asked me to find one.” 

“We never asked you to bring us home a baby like that child, 
did we?” snapped out the wife. 

The older -woman shook her head gravely, remarking that 
“Tom never did show much judgment.” 

Poor little fellow, cold, tired and hungry, and this was his 
welcome to the new home, the home of which he’d dreamed such 
bright dreams upon the long drive. The tears welled up into his 
eyes, but he swallowed hard, and tried to explain to them that, 
though he was small, he was powerfully strong. 

The little girl came up to him and slipped a warm little hand 
into one of his cold ones, and Charley-boy read a welcome in her 
soft, brown eyes. 


56 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


It did not take the boy long to prove what he had so proudly 
asserted, that he was stronger than he looked — and before many 
weeks had passed the entire family wondered how they had gotten 
on without Charley-boy. Yes, they called him Charley-boy upon 
the farm, too, for when they first inquired his name, he answered 
“Charley-boy,” and then quickly coloring, corrected himself and 
said “Charles Carter.” But Charley-boy he was to them from 
that day on. 

What a busy life the little fellow’s was ! Up at half-past four 
on cold, blustering, winter mornings to help milk the cow, tend 
to the other stock and make the house fires, then off to school for 
the day, and, after that, more work, supper and to bed. That first 
winter the nights were the hardest of all. When darkness came he 
longed for mother and May. After supper he would sit with 
Florence beside him and tell her pretty fairy stories, and wish that 
it would never be bed-time, for, though he was very tired and 
sleepy, he dreaded going up alone into his attic-room over the 
kitchen. 

His little room was close “under the roof, and never very cold, 
because it contained the big chimney. But oh, the noises he heard 
in the night! He was far from the rest of the family, and old 
Jack Frost made the nails in the rafters draw and snap so loudly, 
and the wind howled so drearily, and the mice made such a racket, 
playing at hide and seek on the bare floor! It was all so very 
frightful for a little boy who had hitherto always slept in mother’s 
room at home. When he awakened in the night he would watch 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


57 


the queer 'shadows in the room. What he well knew in daylight 
to be strings of dried apples and red peppers, at night took on such 
fantastic shapes, and often looked like huge hands stretched out 
toward him in the darkness. 

But, in spite of his hard work by day and frights by night, he 
grew tall and fat on the farm, and after a while the lovely summer 
came again, and made the woods and fields a beautiful fairy-land. 
Then there were times that he could run and play out of doors with 
Florence, and fish in the little stream close by. Occasionally, too, 
Mr. Jones took him with him to town, so he could visit his mother 
and sisters. But, alas, after each of these visits he had to suffer 
the dreadful pangs of home-sickness. 

Then came another winter, with an additional care, but a very 
pleasant one, for little Florence began to go to school with him. 
When the snow was very deep, or the day extremely cold, Mr. 
Jones would drive the children to school in his sleigh, but most of 
the days they walked to the district school a mile away. 

One day, just as school was out, it began to snow, but not 
hard at first, so the children started gayly upon their way home. 
Before they had gone far, the wind began to blow a frightful gale ; 
thicker and faster fell the snow, until, in the gloom of the late 
afternoon, they could scarcely see a yard ahead. The snow blew 
in their faces and almost smothered them. 

Charley-boy pulled Florence along by the hand as far as she 
could walk, and then carried her in his arms as long as his strength 
would permit. Then he took off his coat and buttoned it about the 


58 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


little girl and called with all his might, but the wind was calling 
louder than he could, and soon smothered his poor little voice. 
Once more the children struggled on, and once more Florence gave 
out and had to be carried, but just as the poor little boy felt that 
they must lie down in the snow to freeze, a loud “Halloo !” reached 
his ears. 

With a great effort he answered back, and in another moment 
Mr. Jones had Florence in his arms, and with the brave little boy 
clinging to his coat, he struggled to the farm-house, which was 
really close at hand. Mr. Jones handed the girl to her mother, and 
turned just in time to catch the boy as he fell, exhausted and almost 
frozen, upon the threshold.. 

They rubbed the children’s hands and feet with snow, and 
poured hot drinks down their throats, and then tucked them into 
nice, warm beds, from which they arose next morning very little 
the worse for their hard experience in the blizzard. 

Florence’s father, mother and grandmother all realized that 
but for the bravery of Charley-boy their darling little girl would 
have perished in the storm, before her father could have found her 
— and from that day they all loved the boy very dearly. 











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THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


6i 


THE PINE TREE’S STORY 


ITTLE Hugh was a true lover of nature and he 
especially loved the pine trees that grew upon 
the hillside near the mountain cottage where 
he lived. His favorite nook was a rustic seat 
between two pines — one very tall, the other 
much shorter. He often listened to their 
sighings, and had noticed that the taller pine 
sighed the most. He wondered why such 
a big, tall, strong fellow should be so sad. 
One day as he sat beneath their boughs he fancied that he heard 
voices speaking very softly, so that he could scarcely hear the words 
above the sighs. He laid his ear close against the bark of the taller 
tree and heard this conversation : 

“Father,” asked the younger tree, “what makes you so sad 
to-day? You sigh with every breath.” 

“I am thinking of the past, my son ; of the life I lived when I 
was happiest.” 

“Tell me about your life then — will you, father?” 

“Yes, I will tell you of my youthful days, when I was no 
older nor taller than you are now. Oh, my poor son! You can 




62 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


never look back upon such a past as mine! Never can you know 
my dearest friends, the red-men. They were my first friends and 
companions. How lonely I feel to think that never again shall I 
see them. Alas, the white men can never take their place in my 
affections. When I was very young, only a tiny sprout, the Indians 
lived all about here. ..They took great care that their moccasined 
feet did not tread upon my little head, stepping carefully around me. 
You can see the narrow path that runs between us now. That is 
the path made by their feet as they passed and repassed me, going 
and coming from their hunts. 

“The little pappooses played about me, and it filled my heart 
with joy to see them so happy. Though they seldom laughed aloud, 
as your pale-faced young friends do, neither did they scream and 
cry with pain or anger, as do your young friends. 

“Never can I forget the great, beautiful dances their parents 
and the young bucks and maidens used to perform. How I wish, 
my son, that you might see one of their wonderful fire dances, 
though ’tis true that some of my relatives and friends perished in 
the flames of those dances. Yet they were kinder to us than the 
white men have been. 

“In those good old days the lion, the wild-cat, wolf and fox, 
and the great buffalo, were our friends and playmates. I grew 
taller and taller, with these dear, wild friends about me, when, 
suddenly, the white man appeared and drove away almost all of 
my friends. The red-men fled before their long, ugly guns, and 
so did the most of my animal friends. Then they began to cut 


THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


63 


down my tree relatives, and to tear out the big rocks to make a 
road over which they could drive the horses and mules that pulled 
their wagons. Next, they sawed up many of my tree friends to 
build their houses and barns, and at length, and worst of all, they 
used them for blocks, called ties, and nailed long, steel rails upon 
them; and soon the big, black monster they call an engine came 
puffing and blowing and belching forth smoke and sparks as it 
rushed past us, shrieking and screaming like a demon. Then how 
my wild friends fled into the dense forests, where they could 
neither see nor hear this frightful monster! Soon few were left 
but the chipmunks and birds, who loved us too well to desert us, 
knowing that we were powerless to lift our heavy feet and flee like 
the rest. Ugh I how I do hate the big, black monster — and I have 
good reason for doing so, too. Didn’t the sparks he spit out, that 
first dry summer that he appeared in our midst, burn up my dear 
parents I” 

“Oh, yes, father,” interrupted the young pine, “I, too, can 
remember when my grandparents were burned. What a grandly 
beautiful flame they sent up. Do you remember how the children 
clapped their hands and shouted at the beautiful sight? I have 
never seen a finer fire.” 

“For shame, son! Would you rejoice over the death of your 
own grandparents! I fear you are not a worthy descendant of 
your noble ancestors, the tallest and strongest of all the pines, if 
you rejoiced with those wretched little pale-faces at such a 
pitiful sight.” 


64 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


“No, father, you wrong me. Remember how young I was 
then. Now, I would sigh as loudly as you do to see one of our 
family suffer such destruction, and thus bfe deprived of being of 
use in the building of houses or the making of furniture or in any 
other way useful to mortals. Indeed, I pray that you and I may 
not be uselessly destroyed, as were our noble ancestors.” 

“What ! Would you be content to serve our enemy, the pale- 
face? Would you be content to cook his food or to be made into 
the table at which he eats ? Not so I. I who am his senior and his 
better — for boast as he may of his ancestors, mine have far sur- 
passed his in both age and size. Bah, my son ! Would you fall 
so low as to be his serf ?” 

“Yes, father, I should be content to die at any time if by so 
doing I could benefit the world. Yet do not think that I am weary 
of life, for I find it very good and I would like to live for many 
years, that I might see these children, who now play about me, 
grow up into manhood and womanhood. However, if I should 
meet the fate I most desire, I must be cut down while I am still 
young — before I have grown much taller.” 

“And what is this fate which you most desire, my son?” 

“It is to be used as a Christmas tree in the cottage close by ; 
to have my dear little friends dance and sing about me, and to 
have the colored candles burned like incense upon me, and the pretty 
toys hung from my branches. That is my dearest dream.” 

“But, my son, after the candles have burned out and the toys 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


65 


have been taken off, then you would be thrown aside to slowly 
wither and die. Think of that.” 

“Yes, I have thought of it ; but for that part I care not. Only 
let my last days be spent in making my dear friends joyous, and I 
shall die content.” 

Little Hugh listened for a while longer, but could hear nothing 
but the deep sighing of the older pine. Then he ran into the house 
to tell the family what he had heard. Of course, they laughed 
at him and said he must have been dreaming. They had never 
heard a pine tree talk, and some people can’t believe anything unless 
they have seen or heard it themselves, poor things. But, neverthe- 
less, to please his boy, the following Christmas-tide his father cut 
down the young pine tree and they decorated it very beautifully, 
and upon Christmas-eve, while all the children were dancing and 
laughing, little Hugh heard the tree chuckling to himself, and he 
went up to it and touched one of the boughs and whispered, “You 
are the nicest tree I ever knew, and I love you dearly,” and then the 
tree, laughed so loudly that Hugh was certain the others must have 
heard it, but they didn’t, being deaf to the voice of the pine family. 
They said again that the dear little boy had been napping, and 
that it was late, and he must go to bed. 

When the Christmas tree was quite withered and dried, they 
cut it into nice thick pieces for the fireplace, and all the family 
agreed with Hugh that it made the warmest and brightest fire they 
had ever seen. As the fire was dying out in the last log, little 


66 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


Hugh said very softly ; “Good-bye, my dear pine friend. Are you 
happy and content to die this way?” And the log said faintly: 
■“Yes, perfectly happy; perfectly content.” 

And then they lifted little Hugh and carried him gently to 
bed, for they found him sound asleep upon the warm, soft 
hearth-rug. 





TKc Little Stream. 


\ 


N • 



h •* 


■x .. 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


69 


THE STREAM’S ERROR 

OR MANY years the little stream had been run- 
ning down the mountain side, leaping over 
the stones in its way and singing gayly as it 
performed its deeds of mercy. First, the 
dainty blue and' white columbine and pink, 
wild honeysuckle must be given their life- 
giving drinks of its pure, cold waters. 
Farther down the mountain, the trees and 
wild rose bushes claimed their share, and in 
the valley below the people of the little hamlet and their cattle were 
all dependent upon him for their very lives. It had ever been a 
joy to him to feel his importance, and gradually he had begun to 
think of the trees, grasses, flowers and cattle, and even the people, 
as belonging to him. All were nourished by his loving care. 

His mother, the kind-hearted little spring, would sing to him 
every morning : “Now, go forth, my son, and perform your deeds 
of mercy. Let nothing suffer through your neglect.” The dear, 
unassuming, little mother uever hinted to him that but for her he 
would never have lived to do these deeds of mercy. She never 
reminded him that it was she who first showed him the way down 



70 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


the mountain side, so that he might make the valley blossom into 
beauty. No, she let him take all the glory to himself, and after a 
time he became very conceited, and wanted to hear his praises sung 
all along his course, down to the great river. 

One morning, as he was running along, thinking how very 
important he was, he noticed one of the columbines and a honey- 
suckle whispering and nodding gayly to each other, and he stopped 
and asked them what they were saying, but they only laughed, and 
wouldn’t repeat their conversation. All day he thought about it, 
and fretted and scolded to himself, until even the cows in the valley 
noticed it and said: “What has made our friend, the stream, 
unhappy? He is not singing this morning, and yet it is a perfect 
July day; the sun shines brightly and the world is very beautiful.” 

But the stream kept saying to himself: “Oh, yes, it’s well 
enough for me to give them their daily drink. They owe their 
lives to me, yet do not think enough of me to repeat their con- 
versation. I do believe they were making fun of me. I’d like to 
teach them a lesson.” And then the wicked tempter whispered : 
“Why not? Why not let them go thirsty for a while? Then they 
would realize how much you have done for them.” 

Alas, the stream listened to this bad advice, and finally decided 
that, as he had worked many years for his friends, he now needed 
a vacation, and, without consulting his wise little mother, he' 
worked all that night upon another path, so that he could run down 
another side of the mountain, where there was nothing but rocks 
and sand, and where he would not have to help others at all. The 


THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


71 


first day it was great fun, he thought, leaping from rock to rock 
and picturing to himself how surprised and frightened his old 
friends must feel at his absence. 

But upon the second morning, when his mother sent him off 
with the old message, “Gk> forth, my son, and do your deeds of 
mercy. Let nothing suffer through your neglect,” he felt quite 
ashamed. Of course, the stay-at-home little mother had not dis- 
covered that he was taking a vacation from his work. 

All that day he felt sad and lonely. The rocks didn’t approve 
of his intrusion into their midst, and wouldn’t give him a word 
of greeting. There was nothing pretty to look at, and he found 
it so monotonous that he decided that next day he’d return to his 
old friends and his work. But, sad to relate, he found his old 
course blocked by a huge rock that had fallen during his absence. 
All day long he worked as hard as he could, trying to move the 
rock, but it didn’t budge an inch. The following day and the next 
he had the same ill success. He looked up at the bright sun and 
begged him to hide behind a cloud so that his dear, thirsty friends 
might not perish under the fierce rays. But the sun shone on 
relentlessly, and seemed to delight in punishing him for his wicked 
selfishness. 

Finally, he went to his mother and confessed his guilt, and 
begged her to help him push the rock away from his old path. The 
mother was deeply grieved, but hastened forth to assist him to 
remove the obstacle. With their combined efforts they soon suc- 
ceeded, and the stream ran with all his might down the mountain 


72 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


side to his poor friends. When he drew near to the columbine and 
honey-siickle, he beheld a pitiful sight. All their beautiful blos- 
soms lay scattered and dead, and they themselves were so ill that 
they could not speak to him when he came and poured the welcome 
water into their parched throats. 

As soon as he knew they would live, he hastened on to his tree 
and bush friends, whose leaves were turning yellow and sadly 
' drooping. Then on and on, reviving all upon his way, his heart 
sick at the sight of the suffering he had caused. 

The cattle had been driven away to another stream, and the 
people of the hamlet were all ill from drinking water they had 
brought from a dirty pool. 

It took many, many drinks of the pure cold water to heal his 
suffering friends, and then they said: “Dear stream, why did 
you forsake us? You were always dearly beloved by us all.” 

When the stream told the columbine and honey-suckle why 
he had gone off vexed, they explained to him what their secret 
had been. Each was expecting another new bloom to show him 
next morning, and they had been talking together of the pleasant 
surprise for him. 

You can imagine how ashamed the stream was, and how he 
tried to make up for his error by being kinder than ever to his 
friends. 

He promised his mother that never again would he lose his 
temper and ill use his great power for doing good. And he kept 
his word. 


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THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


75 


THE JAMES CHILDREN, AND THEIR TRIP TO THE 
MOUNTAINS 

REAT joy reigned in the James’ household when 
the angels brought to it a beautiful boy baby. 
For weeks five-year-old Louise had prayed 
for a baby, and now, that one had really 
come, she was almost wild with joy, though 
she couldn’t help feeling a little jealous that 
mamma and nurse should be taking all the 
care of it. However, she felt certain that 
when he was older and could walk she would 
have him entirely to herself, and that he was as truly her own as 
was her favorite dolly, Clara Belle. At first he grew so slowly that 
Louise was quite impatient waiting. 

When baby began to walk he was very funny and interesting, 
tumbling about — such a little roly-poly.. And when he began to 
talk their language he gave them endless amusement, mixing the 
newly-learned words with those of his own sweet baby talk. His 
little sister never tired of teaching him the names of things, and 
she was the proudest little girl in the land when he began to call her 
“Weeze,” his way of saying her name. 

How she did love him! She loved to see his soft, pink little 




76 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


body in the bath and to kiss his sweet, fat neck and to play “piggies” 
with his tiny toes. 

Louise always spoke of the baby as “My Baby,” and her 
parents called him “The Boy,” for in vain had -they searched for 
a name good enough for the wonderful baby. They had thought 
of naming him Henry for papa’s father, or Charles for mamma’s, 
but papa’s family were so strongly in favor of the former, while 
mamma’s people held out so firmly for the latter, that both had to 
be abandoned in order to keep peace in the families. 

Then there was papa’s name, dearest of all to mamma. But 
papa had a nephew who bore his full name, and he thought it would 
be confusing to have two little boys called by the same name; so 
“The Boy” had remained a poor, nameless baby. 

It was decided to spend the baby’s second summer in the cool- 
ness of the Rockies, and so Mr. James accepted the kind invitation 
of a relative to take possession of his summer cottage, in a quiet, 
charming nook of the mountains. 

Louise had never before visited the mountains, and upon the 
way up her exclamations of surprise and delight greatly amused the 
other passengers. 

How can I picture her joy when they had left the railroad 
and were driven to the cozy cottage, with its yard filled with 
columbine and other wild flowers! Just outside the fence ran a 
laughing little stream, and close by was a dear little mirror of a 
lake with a boat upon it. 

The grand old mountains, some covered with thick forests. 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


77 


Others barren and rugged to their snowy crowns, surrounded this 
little Garden of Eden so completely that Louise wondered how 
ever they got in, or would get out again. 

How good the hastily prepared dinner tasted! And how 
pretty the large bouquet of the blue and white columbine, that 
Louise had gathered, looked upon the table! 

While the others were unpacking and preparing the dinner, 
Louise had been having a great romp in the yard, and had made 
the acquaintance of a funny little animal, something like a rat and 
something like a squirrel. 

.He sat up and looked at her pertly, while she called papa to tell 
her what it was. He said it was a chipmunk, and that there were 
hundreds of them up there. Later, when they were eating dinner, 
it jumped up on a bench near the window, and seemed to watch 
them very wistfully. 

So Louise and baby scattered some crumbs about, close to the 
window, and soon he came back and ate them greedily. Before 
they had left the mountain cottage to return home, they had tamed 
this little chipmunk so he would come up and eat right out of 
their hands. 

That afternoon the two children were taken for a row upon 
the tiny lake with their parents and Auntie Belle, and later, in the 
twilight. Auntie and Louise took a long ramble about the place. 

They found three of the dearest little summer-houses, which 
Louise at once claimed for her play houses. One, which nestled 
among the willows, so it was almost hidden from view, they named 


78 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


Willow-Nook; another was Brook-Side, as it was built out over the 
stream and almost surrounded by water; but prettiest of all was 
Rose-Bower, which was built high upon the hillside and sur- 
rounded and carpeted by wild roses. 

The view from Rose-Bower was grand and beautiful. One. 
could look far down the valley and catch glimpses of the stream, 
which looked like a ribbon of silver curving in and out through 
groups of stately pines and thick brush of willow and birch. 

In another direction was a fine view up the canon, and close by, 
at the foot of the hill, nestled the white cottage with the little lake 
beside it. The hillside was dotted with pink roses and blue and 
white columbine, while in a field below a number of delicate mari- 
posa lilies lifted their cups above the thick grass. 

Seated in this bower, they watched the glorious sunset and felt 
closer to the Heavens and Spiritual World than ever before. 

That night it was a tired but very happy little girl who crept 
into the funny little cot-bed, and when she had said her prayer, she 
added : 

“Please, God, let us stay here forever and ever, for I’d rather 
be here than any place, even in Heaven.” 

Next morning mamma was awakened by Louise, who ran into 
the room calling to them: 

“Wake up; I’ve something to tell you. Oh, mamma, please 
wake up papa, so I can tell you both what I’ve decided to name 
the baby.” 

“Well,” said papa, sleepily, “what is it, daughter?” 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


79 


“It’s Webster. Isn’t Webster James a fine name? We’ll name 
him after this lovely place, and it will be so nice for him to be 
named for the place where he’s always going to live.” 

“Always going to live — how’s that, Louise?” 

“That’s so ; you don’t know that I decided I’d like to live here, 
and asked God to let us. Of course we will, for He always gives 
me what I pray for — don’t He, mamma? Didn’t He send my baby 
because I prayed for one?” 

“Oh, there is that darling baby now, crowing away. Does 
he know he has a name? It’s Webster — now how do you like that, 
Mr. Webster James?” 

“See, mamma, he does like it! Hear him coo, and see how 
he’s* smiling. Now we must have him christened by his pretty 
name; but, mamma, how can we, when there is no church here? 
I suppose we’ll have to go home long enough for that, won’t we, 
mamma ?” 

She couldn’t understand why her parents should laugh. Then 
they explained to her some of the reasons why they couldn’t always 
live in the mountains, and also told her that, while this was a 
charming place in the summer, the winter was cold and drear. So 
Louise decided to have as good a time as she could while she was 
in this ideal spot, and go down home again for the winter, and then 
have the baby christened. Her parents consulted about the name, 
and agreed to give Louise her way about it, as she had chosen an 
honored name, of which their boy might be proud. 

What a continual picnic that summer was for the two little 

\ 

I 


8o 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


ones! — picking numerous bouquets; chasing chipmunks; making 
mud pies by the, little spring; filling their' little baskets with chips 
from the hillside, and carrying them to Mary for the fire ; picking 
the wild raspberries and strawberries, that quickly disappeared into 
their little mouths, and doing a hundred other enjoyable things. 

The grown people had as good a time as the little ones— climb- 
ing the mountains, rowing upon the lake, fishing in the stream, 
driving through the picturesque canons, or reading and day-dream- 
ing in the comfortable hammocks on the broad veranda or in the 
pretty summer houses. 

Both the children wore overalls, so that they could run and 
climb about with greater freedom and safety. Louise was de- 
lighted to be a boy, as she termed it, and insisted upon being called 
“Tommy.” But, funniest of all, was Baby Webster, in his tiny 
overalls, surmounted by his baby cloak and his golden curls, half 
hidden by a little blue sunbonnet. Such a funny mixture of boy 
and baby! How proudly he strutted about, feeling that he was 
almost as big as papa — with but one regret — that his pockets were 
not big enough to hold all the pretty pebbles from the hillside! 

The children had been so obedient about remaining inside the 
house-yard, when not attended by the older people, that their 
parents had ceased to watch them constantly, when one day their 
mother had a dreadful fright. Papa had gone to the village for 
the mail, and auntie was out for a walk ; mamma and Mary were 
busy in the house. When mamma had last looked out, both chil- 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 8i 

dren were merrily playing horse, Louise mounted upon the low 
fence and Webster upon a broom-stick. 

Suddenly mamma noticed that the place was very still and 
hurried to the door; neither child was in sight. She called, but 
got no answer. She ran through the gate to the foot-bridge across 
the stream, and, trembling with fear, noticed how rapidly the water 
swept by; then she ran to the road, calling wildly all the time, but 
knowing how quickly her voice was drowned by the roar of the 
stream and the sighing of the pines. Mary joined in the search. 
Suddenly they beheld auntie and both children waving to them 
from Rose-Bower. Mamma hurried to them and caught the little 
ones into her arms, crying for joy. 

^Auntie had returned and had taken the children off for a walk, 
forgetting to first tell their mother. She was very sorry for the 
suffering she had caused, and you may be sure she never made 
such a mistake again. 




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W •• ’ V* 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


83 


THE VISIT TO THE MINE 

NE bright, lovely morning,^ while the James 
family were visiting in the mountains, they 
drove off in the two-seated spring wagon for 
a visit to a big mine,^ in which Mr. James 
owned an interest. They left the cottage at 
six o’clock, as they had a very long ride 
ahead of them. Soon they entered a wild 
looking canon, through which they drove for 
about ten miles. The grandeur of the rugged 
mountains which walled the canon; the clear stream of water, 
roaring as it fell over the big boulders; the myriads of beautiful 
wild-flowers in all colors, and the deep blue sky overhead, made 
this a ride never to be forgotten by any of the party, not even by 
little Louise. 

At the mills of the mine, which were located at the end of 
the wagon road, papa staked the horses, where they could get 
good grass and water — and then, spreading the lunch out upon a 
table-cloth on the grass, they all began to eat with the keenest of 
mountain appetites. Their water-pitcher was the ice-cold spring, 
which bubbled up within a few feet of their table, and they found 
the water most refreshing. 




84 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


The children thought this was the nicest picnic lunch they 
had ever had; certainly they had chosen a most picturesque spot 
in which to eat it. Suddenly Louise exclaimed: 

“Look at the hole in the mountain! I can see the blue sky 
right through. Is that your mine, papa?” 

“What you see, Louise,” explained papa, “is not a hole, but a 
big ore dump just outside the entrance to the big tunnel, and the 
greenish-blue color of the ore does look exactly like a piece of 
blue sky.” 

After lunch, when the baby had been put to sleep, they left 
him with Mary, and mounted some funny little burros that had 
been provided for them, and began to climb up the mountain side. 

How they had to whip the stubborn little animals to keep 
them going ! Sometimes they thought it more work than it would 
be to climb by foot; but when they had tried the latter mode, they 
were, very glad to get back upon the burros, for the light air at that 
high altitude made it very hard for them to breathe when they 
exerted themselves much. 

At a snow bank, Louise insisted upon getting down and having 
a good slide, so she and her papa sat down on the hard, smooth 
snow, and were soon at the bottom of the drift. Oh, what fun 
it was I Louise had to repeat it several times before she felt satis- 
fied to proceed upon her burro. 

Soon they had to cross a deep gully that was filled with snow 
the year round. It was about eighteen feet deep, and after her papa 
had told them the depth, Louise was afraid to cross, lest their 
burros should sink with them. 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


8S 


At last they reached the entrance to the big tunnel, and Louise 
took a good look at the ore which had looked so blue to her in 
the distance. It looked greener now, since she was close to it. 

The kind miners lent them their rubber coats and caps, and 
they had brought their rubbers along, so they went into the tunnel 
well prepared for the dripping moisture. The long, narrow hole 
was so dark and cold that they were all glad they were not the 
miners who had to work there every day. 

Their guide chipped off and gave to them some rich samples 
of ore. But little Louise couldn’t see anything very interesting in 
this dismal place, and was wishing herself out in the bright sun- 
shine, when suddenly they came to a beautiful sight. She thought 
they must have stepped into “Aladdin’s Cave,” and rubbed her eyes 
hard to find out if she really were awake. 

The last four hundred feet of the tunnel was a beautiful 
crystal palace. Never did Jack Frost do more beautiful work. The 
water which had slowly oozed through the rocky ceiling and walls 
had frozen into the most delicate fretwork, and taken most fantastic 
shapes. Lighted by the tiny flames of the candles which they 
carried, it was certainly a dazzling sight, and they all begged to 
remain longer in this fairy-land when papa said it was time to go 
out again. Close to the tunnel was a big, black hole which the 
miners called a shaft, and papa and auntie decided to go down into 
this deep shaft in a big bucket, which was lowered by a heavy 
iron chain. 

Louise was so afraid to have them go down that she cried. 


86 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


though the guide assured her there was no danger. She was 
greatly relieved to have them safely back again on the top of the 
ground, and was surprised when auntie said they had been almost 
to China, for she thought China was away across the Pacific Ocean. 

“Now,” said papa, “you must see one more wonderful sight 
before we return. We must climb to the top of this mountain, for, 
as it’s a clear day, we can see the famous Mount of the Holy Cross 
from there.” 

They had to leave their burros and climb by foot, and it 
seemed as though they should never reach the top. Mamma and 
Louise gave it up several times and were about to start back, but, 
knowing that they would be sorry afterwards if they missed this 
wonderful sight, they took new courage and finally reached the top. 

And what a view they had! Dozens of high peaks lifted up 
their snowy heads about them. It seemed as though all the world 
must be covered with mountains. Far below them stretched beauti- 
ful valleys, and the rivers running through them looked like 
threads of silver. 

Papa had brought a pair of field-glasses, and through them 
they could see a flock of mountain sheep browsing in one of the 
valleys. Far away upon another mountain they thought they could 
see a solitary deer drinking from a stream. 

But what interested them ^ most of all was the view of the 
Mount of the Holy Cross. There, stretched out upon the high, 
rocky peak in front of them, were the snowy arms of the cross. 
The sublimity, the sacredness of the beloved symbol, which seemed 


THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


87 


laid there by the very hand of the Almighty, filled them with awe, 
so that none spoke for quite awhile. The thoughts of that other 
cross which once rested upon a mount, one not white with snow, 
but red with the blood of the Great Master, filled their eyes 
with tears. 

After awhile Louise broke the stillness by asking if God really 
made that cross, and papa answered: “Yes, in His way. He did.” 
Nature had left the deep crevices in the mountain which formed 
the cross, and then the beautiful snow had filled them and made it 
what it was. 

As mamma was anxious about her baby, they hurried down 
the mountain as fast as they could, and were very glad when they 
reached the burros, and could rest their aching limbs by riding 
the rest of the way. They found the baby rested and happy after his 
long nap, and they had a happy ride home, singing gayly most of 
the way. 

The next day was rainy, so auntie told Louise a story about 
the discovery of a mine, knowing that she would be interested in 
that subject after having just visited a real mine. 

^ ^ ^ 

Once there was a little boy, not much older than you, who had 
lived in the mountains all his life. His papa was always digging 
deep into the mountains trying to find gold and silver — and that is 
why the family lived where they did. One day, after a rain, while 


88 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


he and his friend Charlie were admiring a beautiful rainbow, his 
friend said: 

“Frank, don’t you wish we could get the pot of gold at the 
end of that rainbow?” 

“Indeed I do,” said Frank; “if I had it I’d buy me some new 
snow-shoes for next winter, and a pony and just lots of things. 
Say, Charlie, let’s hunt for it; it looks as though it ended right 
over the other side of that mountain,” pointing to the nearest 
mountain. 

Charlie shrugged his shoulders, saying: “You can hunt for 
it, but I’m tired and am going home to supper now. Good-bye — 
wish you luck,” and away went Charlie, who was always too lazy 
to exert himself much for anything. 

Frank started off full of hope. He climbed the mountain, 
and had begun to 'descend the other side, when the rainbow sud- 
denly vanished, and he couldn’t tell where the end had been. He 
was so badly disappointed that he sat down and cried, for he was 
tired and hungry, and the darkness was coming very fast. He 
began to realize how far he was from home, and he had heard his 
father tell of seeing a mountain lion bn that side of the mountain. 
What if one should come now? Oh, dear, how he wished himself 
safely home again ! But soon he realized that he was not behaving 
like a little man, and he rubbed the tears from his eyes and started 
toward home as fast as he could go. 

As he picked his way up the steep mountain side, he noticed 
some peculiar stones that looked like some pieces of ore in his 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


. 89 


father’s cabinet at home. His father had told him how rich those 
pieces were with gold. Perhaps those, too, had gold in them, so he 
picked them up and filled his pockets, then made a little mound 
of stones to mark the place, in case his father thought it worth 
while to prospect there, and hurried home. 

If it had not been a moonlight night, I fear that Frank would 
' have been lost upon the mountain, for it was late when he reached 
home, and he found his parents watching anxiously for him. He 
was so hungry that he forgot the stones in his pockets, until he 
had finished a hearty supper. Then he handed them to his father, 
who found that they were very rich, and they decided to start early 
next morning for the place he’d marked, in hopes to discover a rich 
vein of mineral. 

They did so, and the mine Frank found made them very 
wealthy, so that they left their little -mountain home and moved 
into a big city, where Frank could get a fine education. Afterward 
they traveled all over the world, and had a very happy time. Frank 
always said the mine was the pot of gold he found at the end of the 
rainbow, and so they called their mine “Pot of Gold.” 

You may be certain that Charlie and his parents were always 
sorry that he was too lazy to go with Frank that day, for, if he 
had, they would have owned part of the mine. 

^ 

“I like that story,” said Louise. “Oh, auntie, there’s a rainbow 
now ; let us go and find that pot of gold.” 


90 


THE CHILDREN'S SUNSHINE BOOK 


But auntie shook her head, saying that it was too wet, and 
that she believed she would rather eat the good supper she smelled 
cooking than find a pot of gold. 



THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


91 


SOME OF AUNTIE- BELLE^S STORIES 

UNTIE Belle was very fond of her little niece, 
Louise, and often made her very happy by 
telling her stories. When they were in the 
mountains the evenings were often too cool 
for the family to remain out of doors, and 
then auntie would tell the little girl stories 
until bed-time. One evening she told her 
this funny monkey story: My friend, Edith 
Sykes, had a brother who took a trip around 
the world, and when he came home he brought ^the family many 
unique presents, among which was a little monkey for his fun- 
loving little sister, Elsie. 

Of course Elsie was delighted, and the monkey took a fancy 
to her at once — seemed to know that he belonged to her, and would 
always obey her, though she never punished him. She named him 
Ted, and the two became great companions. When she went out 
on her bicycle Ted rode on the handle-bars, and when she went 
for a walk Ted had to go, too. 

He slept in a soft little basket by her bed, and kept very quiet 
so as not to awaken his little mistress in the night. But some cold 
night he would creep into, the bed beside her to get warm, for 
monkeys don’t like the cold. 



92 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


He used to play such funny pranks. Sometimes he’d hide her 
shoes or her hair ribbons, and make her hunt all over the room for 
them. When Elsie was in a great hurry and* needed what he’d 
hidden, she would pretend to cry, and then he’d quickly bring her 
things to her and lick her hand, and seem to beg her pardon, for 
he loved her very much. 

Of course, Elsie had to go to school, and so couldn’t be with 
Ted all the time, and sometimes he was a great torment to the rest 
of the family, as he wouldn’t mind any of them. He would get 
very angry when he couldn’t have his own way, and would often 
pull hair and scratch Elsie’s folks. They often threatened to send 
him away, but then Elsie would cry and plead so hard for her pet 
that they would relent and agree to give him another trial. 

But one day he did something that they couldn’t forgive. He 
had been begging for some cake, and because they wouldn’t give 
him any he deliberately threw a beautiful vase upon the floor, 
breaking it into atoms. Brother Richard was home at the time, 
and he quickly put Master Ted in a cloth sack and carried him to 
the Park, where he presented him to the city’s Zoological Gardens. 

You can imagine the scene when poor Elsie came home and 
found that her monkey was gone forever. For a time she was so 
very unhappy and naughty about it, that her family almost wished 
the wretched monkey back. But, after awhile, she found some com- 
fort in riding out to the Park every pleasant day, and taking nuts 
and cake to her pet. Then the keeper would let him out of the 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


93 


cage for a frolic with her, a sight which the visitors to the Park 
thoroughly appreciated. 

^ ^ ^ 

“Oh, what fun Elsie must have had! How I wish my papa 
would get me a monkey — and a parrot, too. Don’t you know a 
parrot story, auntie?” 

“Yes,” said her auntie, “and I will tell it to you.” 


Some friends of mine had an aunt of whom they were very 
fond. She lived in a neighboring town and often came to visit 
them. Sometimes she asked them to entertain a friend of hers for a 
day or so, who was passing through their city. They were gen- 
erally pleased to do her such favors, but one time they felt that 
she asked too much of them. 

It was Christmas time, and in answer to their urgent invitation 
to her to spend that glad day with them she wrote that she was 
unable to accept, but would send as a substitute a friend of hers, 
Mrs. O’Riley, whom she trusted they would treat as one of the 
family. 

“What a nuisance to have a stranger to entertain upon such a 
day,” exclaimed little Val, and he voiced the sentiment of the en- 
tire family. 

Christmas morning the daughters of the house aired the guest- 
room and made a bright fire in the grate, so that their aunt’s 


94 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


friend would find a comfortable room after the cold drive from the 
station. The father of the family had driven down to meet her, 
and as the train was late, he was obliged to wait a long hour in 
the cold. 

It was close to the dinner hour when the girls saw their father 
driving toward the house alone. 

“Thank goodness, she didn’t come,” said Beth. 

“But think of all our trouble for nothing,” exclaimed Jennie. 

The father stopped in front and called for one of the boys to 
come out and help Mrs. O’Riley into the house, and what do you 
think he had in the sleigh ? A parrot in a cage, all covered with a 
warm blanket. Attached to the cage was a tag with this inscrip- 
tion: “I’m Mrs. O’Riley; please treat me kindly.” 

How they all did laugh, and Mrs. O’Riley laughed with them, 
for she was very glad to get into a nice, warm house after her long, 
cold ride. 

She proved to be a very accomplished polly, and could laugh 
and sing and also cry, just like a tiny baby. Often when they had 
company they were obliged to shut her up, for she was so noisy. 
One evening the young people gave a big party, and before their 
guests arrived they shut the parrot up in the attic room. 

During the evening some one suggested a game of hide and 
seek, and off the young people scampered to find hiding places. 
One of the girls thought of a good hiding place in the attic. The 
hall light enabled her to find her way up, but when she had closed 
the attic door, and found herself in total darkness, she decided 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


95 


to go down again. But hunt as she could, she couldn’t find the 
door, and suddenly she was terror-stricken to hear a hoarse voice 
whisper : 

' “Look out — look out!” 

The poor girl’s screams brought help at once, and she felt 
quite ashamed when she found out that she had been afraid of a 
parrot. 

^ ^ ^ 

I am sorry to say that little Louise was not always a pleasant 
little girl, so one day, when she had been quite disagreeable, auntie 
told her this story about Mary and the Fairybird: 

Once there was a little girl named Mary. I might almost say 
that Mary was two little girls in one (not a two-headed girl, but a 
little girl with two entirely different dispositions). Sometimes 
she was as merry and sweet a child as you would wish to see, but 
at other times she was the crossest and most unhappy little girl 
in the world. One day she was unusually cross, and her 
mother said : 

“Do run down into the woods and find my sunshine Mary 
to bring home to me.” 

Right back of their home was a little strip of woods, so into 
it rushed Mary, crying loudly as she ran. She sat down on the 
ground and leaned against a scrubby little oak, whose branches 
bent low over her head. She kept crying and thinking bitterly that 
no one loved her, and she didn’t care,' for she didn’t love anybody, 




THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


97 


when suddenly she heard her name. She jumped up and looked 
about, but, as she saw no one, she thought she must have imagined 
it. But soon she heard “Mary” again, this time very near her. 
Looking up, she discovered that a beautiful bird was speaking 
to her. 

“Well I never !” she exclaimed. “You’re not a parrot; how did 
you learn to talk?” 

“Because I’m a Fairybird.” 

“What — a fairy? Oh, I’m so glad. I always wanted to see 
one. Now I know that ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is a true story, even 
if my teacher did say it wasn’t, and that there are no fairies. Tell 
me, dear fairy, won’t you take me around, and show me the lovely 
sights of fairyland?” 

“Yes, I can show you some very pretty things — that is, if you’ll 
promise never again to be as cross as you have just been.” 

Poor Mary found such promises easy to make, and as easy to 
break, so she answered eagerly: 

“Yes, yes; now show me everything.” 

“Then stand upon your tip-toes and peep into that bird’s nest 
just above you.” 

“Oh, oh ! Such dear little blue eggs ! I’ll take them all home 
with me.” 

“No, Mary, you musn’t touch the eggs, for if you did none 
of the little birds would hatch out, to sing under your windows, 
and besides, think how badly Mr. and Mrs. Robin would feel to 


98 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


come home and find both nest and eggs gone! It would almost 
break their hearts.” 

“Then I wouldn’t touch them — not for anything; indeed I 
wouldn’t, for I love the birds dearly.” 

“That’s a good girl; now peep into the nest on the opposite 
side of the tree. What do you see now ?” 

“Oh, the cunningest baby birds — one, two, three, four, five. 
I surely must take one of these home.” 

“No, Mary dear, for they have a mother who would grieve 
dreadfully if one was lost.” 

“But, dear fairy, she surely wouldn’t miss just one.” 

“How many children has your mother, Mary?” 

“Five.” 

“Well, if one was taken from her would she miss him?” 

“Of course she would ; what a silly question to ask — she loves 
us all dearly.” 

Mary forgot that a short time before she had been saying to 
herself that nobody loved her. 

“Well, child,” said the fairy, “the mother-bird loves her babies 
dearly, too. Besides, they are only babies, and would soon die if 
taken from their mother.” 

“Then I suppose I can’t have one. But see what they are 
doing — opening and shutting their bills all the time. They look 
so funny.” 

“They are hungry; but here comes the mother-bird. Now 
hide, Mary, and you will see her feed her young.” 


THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


99 


Mary hid behind a thick bough, and watched the bird divide 
a long angle-worm between her babies and then fly away to a 
neighboring stream, bringing back water in her bill for them. She 
seemed to be kissing them, but she was giving each a drop of water. 
They seemed quite satisfied with their breakfast, and soon began 
chirping cheerily. 

Then the Fairybird showed Mary four funny baby squirrels 
in the hollow of an old tree, and they looked so comical that Mary 
laughed out loud, and frightened the babies so badly that she 
thought it best to hurry away from them. 

“I’ve had such a good time, dear fairy, but I’m afraid no one 
will believe I’ve been in Fairyland unless I take something home 
with me. Can’t you give me something to keep to remember my 
trip to Fairyland by?” 

“Let me think; do you see those leaves under your feet?” 

“Who wants the old dead leaves!” cried Mary petulantly; “I 
wanted something pretty.” 

“There, Mary, that’s your way of doing things ; always losing 
your temper before your friends have time to explain what they 
mean. If you don’t overcome that habit, you’ll grow into a sour 
old woman, whom no one can love. I was going to ask you to 
look under the leaves for something pretty to take with you.” 

Mary looked, and there were the sweetest little pink blossoms, 
the New England Mayflower. She picked a large bunch of them, 
and then looked up again, intending to thank the kind fairy, but 
the bird was gone. 


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THE CHILDREN’S SUNSHINE BOOK 


So she hurired home to her mother, her hands full of the 
sweet blossoms and a bright smile upon her face. 

Her mother was much pleased with the flowers, but most of 
all pleased with the happy face. When Mary had told her about 
the Fairybird, mamma took her darling in her arms and explained 
that the Fairybird must have been a dream. 

“But how about the flowers, mamma?” argued Mary. “Well, 
dearest, sometimes people do not know when they first awaken, 
and I think that during your dream your feet must have rubbed 
away some of the dead leaves and uncovered the flowers which you 
began to pick before you were really awake.” 

“Whether it was a dream or not, mamma, I have learned a 
good lesson, and Fm going to be an agreeable, sweet little girl all 
the time now, so as not to grow into a sour old woman.” 










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